Beatles and Rolling Stones photographs: New shots of John Lennon and Mick Jagger found

Photographs of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones have been discovered showing
John Lennon taking a backstage cigarette break, Keith Richards cutting
Charlie Watts' hair and Mick Jagger relaxing in front of the television.

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Mick Jagger relaxes while watching 'The Red Skelton Show' while on tour in the U.SPhoto: WENN

The behind-the-scenes, intimate and unguarded shots, have been unearthed after spending 45 years in a duffel bag of The Beatles and Rolling Stone's former tour manager.

The collection of more than 50 pictures, which are being revealed to the public for the first time are part of 3,500 taken by Bob Bonis, the US tour manager who helped organise the so-called British invasion of America in the Swinging Sixties.

When The Beatles and The Rolling Stones arrived in the US for the first time in 1964, The Beatles were known for just one hit song, "I Want to Hold Your Hand," and The Rolling Stones were billed beneath Bo Diddley and The Everly Brothers.

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But Bonis sensed something special was afoot and photographed many of their first tours. By the time the tours has ended the two bands were the biggest in the world.

The photographs, which also include poolside shots of the two bands drinking and relaxing, as well as "goofing" around in hotel rooms, were found by Bonis's son Alex stored in an old Duffel bag.

They are to be exhibited Not Fade Away Gallery will premiere the exhibition 'The British Are Coming: The Beatles and The Rolling Stones 1964 – 66.' in New York.

Larry Marion, Gallery director, said the frames captured a pivotal time in the two bands' careers; their first tours of America from 1964 to 1966.

"In more than 20 years as a rock archaeologist I've never come upon a discovery of this magnitude," he said.

"I've shown the photos to Ringo, who loved them. Keith [Richards] is going to come see the show."

The pictures were never meant for the public eye and Bonis, who died in 1991, kept the negatives and slides private until his son decided to show the world.

Bonis was a small-time talent agent who got lucky and landed the job managing the American tours of the two bands from 1964 to 1966. The trust and confidence he earned from the bands is immediately evident from the snapshots.

Bonis also private photos of other big stars including Simon and Garfunkel, Cream and Frank Sinatra.